Direction Interrégionale de LA REUNION
B.P.4    97491 Ste Clotilde Cedex
Téléphone                02.62.92.11.00
Fax exploitation      02.62.92.11.48
Fax direction           02.62.92.11.47

WTIO22 FMEE 311200 SECURITE GALE WARNING FOR METAREA VII AND METAREA VIII (S) ISSUED BY METEO-FRANCE/TROPICAL CYCLONE CENTRE/LA REUNION 31/01/2008 AT 1200 UTC. WARNING NUMBER: 021/09 (SOUTH-WEST INDIAN OCEAN) 10 MINUTES AVERAGE WIND SPEED IN KNOTS (KT) (WIND GUSTS AT SEA MAY BE ABOUT 40% STRONGER THAN THE AVERAGED WIND). MINIMUM SEA LEVEL PRESSURE IN HECTOPASCALS (HPA) (INDICATIVE FIGURE). GALE WARNING BEGINNING OF VALIDITY: THURSDAY 31/01/2008 AT 1200 UTC. PHENOMENON: MODERATE TROPICAL STORM 9 (GULA) 990 HPA POSITION: WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF POINT 22.3S / 58.4E (TWENTY TWO DECIMAL THREE DEGREES SOUTH AND FIFTY EIGHT DECIMAL FOUR DEGREES EAST) AT 1200 UTC MOVEMENT: SOUTH-SOUTH-WEST 23 KT THREAT AREAS: SQUALLY WEATHER EXISTS WITHIN 60 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER EXTENDING TO 150 NM IN THE NORTHEASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. GALE FORCE WINDS 35 KT AND VERY ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 20 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER. NEAR GALE FORCE WINDS 30 KT AND ROUGH SEAS WITHIN 50 NM RADIUS OF THE CENTER, EXTENDING UP TO 100 NM IN THE EASTERN SEMI-CIRCLE. STRONG GUSTS UNDER SQUALLS. FORECAST POSITION AND INTENSITY: 12H, VALID 2008/02/01 AT 00 UTC: 26.8S / 56.6E, MAX WIND = 30 KT, TROP. DEPRESSION. 24H, VALID 2008/02/01 AT 12 UTC: 31.4S / 58.9E, MAX WIND = 40 KT, BECOMING EXTRATROPICAL. OTHER INFORMATIONS: GULA HAS ACCELERATED ON THE NORTHWESTERN EDGE OF THE SUBTROPICAL HIGH PRESSURES TOWARDS A POLAR TROUGH LOCATED IN ITS SOUTH. IT IS EXPECTED TAKING THIS TROUGH AND MAKING ITS EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS BEFORE EVACUATING SOUTHEASTWARDS IN THE MID LATITUDE WESTERLY FLOW.